How the Porsche Carrera GT Works

In June 1998, Porsche designers came up with the idea of creating a high-performance racecar designed specifically for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which a Porsche had won that year. But due to rising costs and concerns over its high-powered competitor, the Enzo Ferrari, Porsche scrapped its plans for a racecar. Instead, the company created a supercar that was engineered for the track but designed for the road.

The Carrera GT was finally unveiled at the 2003 Geneva Auto Show. It was the first limited-production supercar Porsche had introduced since unveiling the 959 in 1983.

Proving that you don't mess with a good thing, Porsche updated its 2005 Carrera GT only slightly. The company mounted a glass screen between the safety bars, added a seat-height adjustment and made a few other minor changes. But otherwise, the 2005 Carrera GT remains the same the original 2003 model.

How Does the Carrera GT Stack Up?

The Carrera GT is one of only a handful of "supercars," which include the Enzo Ferrari and the Ford GT. Car enthusiasts immediately compare the Carrera GT with the Enzo Ferrari, both of which are made of light but strong carbon fiber. Although the Ferrari is lighter and has more horsepower, critics say the Carrera has more agile cornering. The Porsche is also slightly less pricey than the Ferrari.